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The good news is that we are coming out with our own version of a smoother "Skagit Style" Spey and Switch Line. More agressive than the Elixir but not as Klunky as a Skagit.And we are also doing one in an Intermediate body that will allow us to swing the fly at great distances in a manageable and controlled depth. Over that past few weeks I have ben doing a lot of playing around with many different Elixir Lines amtched with many different rod and rod weights. Surprisingly,One of my favorites small stream matches was the 5/6 Elixir Switch line on my;yes;8/9 Switch. What this really tells me is that these lines are able to really cross over many of the line barriers we experience.. C

Hi Headscan; The Rio Gold line is nice, the Loop Opti Stream nicer, Snowbee Two Colour or Extreme Distance also nicer...Colin has the ED line...ask him....try it!

This is a very healthy thread indeed...the idea that Spey Casting involves more elbow and arm work is only a perception,fact of the matter is that there is little arm extension, useing both arms is very simple , the law of physics is definitely on the longer rods side, and there is a great versatility available to the average caster,either useing a Single,Switch or true Two Handed Rod! The other law of physics that applies here is that the "older we become ,the smarter we become" does apply to many except you younger flyfishers who have seen much earlier than most ,the possibilities associated with Spey Casting what ever form. In North America,15 or even 10 years ago,the greatest percentage of new Spey casters were nearing middle age and up wards because of physical issues or distance needs. We have been slow to the gun,our cousins in many parts of Europe have been weaned on Spey. ! A good example of the functionality of a Spey cast with a Two Handed rod occurs ,for me, if I'm drifting down a fairly large River ,such as the Bow, in my Kick Boat. With the simplest movement I can cast and fish effectively to either side of the river should I choose....while sitting on my ass! What that means is ,that if I see a rise I can easily pick up 70' of line and change direction by 90 degrees (or more)and have a shot at the target....immediately. A spey cast effectively used off a drift boat or other raised watercraft ,useing single handed rods can be nearly equally effective. As Brian said, Two Handed rods are as light or lighter than some Single handers...The Hardy Angel,or Swift, Loop's Grey series of rods, Beulahs ,Snowbee Tamar and Torridge,and the list goes on. But it is not always about how light the rods is...it is more about your fit. Pick up your favorite single hander,as usual with One hand,feel it...then distribute the weight between both your hands and it almost becomes invisible to the memory circuits...the same applies to many new Spey Casters when they pick up a newish Two Handed rod .." this is really light" are the words I hear most often...Two Handers are very versatile fishing tools meant to enhance our abilities and experiences on the waterways of the world... See you all in April

from the sounds of the slang there are a few other Herring Chokers here... I hated waiting for the Miramichi to thaw and become fishable so much that it is the One thing in my life I now completely changed...Vancouver Island is ...well...it just is! Can you imagine 160 CM of Snow in 36 hours...Only the Nor Easters off the Atlantic produce these stupid numbers... But I have to say that this is the most snowy season I have experienced on the Island in 15 years!! and there is still snow on the remote Westpart of the Island!

The best moving water personal boat I have ever used is the Kick Boat...super manageable,with oars,flippers if you want or walk and wade> Will have several here during the Spey Week-end in early April C...

Ask Colin or MAx if they have used the Snowbee Two Colour line this week...that will tell you C

OF all the rods I have used over the years I have to say Snowbee has met the challenge in every aspect...hopefully within the next few weeks we will have a dealer in the Calgary area to work with ...this is a good thing!! I was out today nymphing for Steelhead on the Little Qualicum River well up near the falls. Typically this river gets a Feb. run of fish,must have been early in this case. This is a very sweet river that has been closed for the past 9 years previous to 2007...after fishing it one can understand just how this river was once a great Steelhead River! Not even a Trout today...the point I will make is that I used the Beulah Elixir 5/6 Switch line on an 8/9 Switch rod(all I had with me)...very impressive indeed. Although the belly of the Line is too short to really call it a nymphing line,this water was quite fast and the 10' 6" rod performed impeccably! I don't think we have really understood how effective and versatile the Elixir line concept really is. C

The bad weather in Calgary over the past few weeks has slowed things down a bit but there is a lot of interest coming out of the wood work. we would have loved to have had you there to try"jocks stool" however,we may do a distance casting competition and offer that as a prize ...what do you think? There will be lots of Ladies there so perhaps we may have to adjust the thing!!!??? Any ideas!? C

I'm sure what ever choice you make will be correct...to answer your question about Snowbee Warranties...simple...Most rods are in Stock ,$35 Fee ,typically less that 2 weeks or faster.In 2007 there were 2 Snowbee rod warranty issues;only. we are the Canadian Distributor for Snowbee UK....we have an over the counter warranty policy.. I can tell you that the extensive warranty issues I have had with Hardy/Greys over the past 4 years has been pathetic at best and outrageous at normal. I have suggested to them that perhaps they could stop treating us as Colonials and get a life!

Interestingly enough,I actually fished the Loop 11' 4wt. Grey series rod yesterday as a converted Small Switch/Spey... useing the 5/6 Elixir line...it was a blast casting such a small weight rod...and the line match was bang on for its needs. However,not really a nymphing rod as we know it. Snowbee has been competeing at the world stage for many years and has the nymphing needs dialed in like no other. The Greys Streamflex rod is also another nice rod, I had several in the past 2 years. In 2008 SNowbee is bringing out 2 new series of Nymphing rods in a very light fast action and One less fast. Currently the have the ZR2 series that has hit the Ontario Market with a rage.

Consider the coating on the lines before you make your purchase...the Delta (Air Flo ) coatings don't like the cold weather at all...the Windcutter is better for the COLLLDDDD C

Nice pattern...try painting on the eyes....

Yeah,thats what happened...like that story! Also,thanks Sirocco,the pic...how did you do that? C

A picture tells a thousand words and stories... and sets up a memory system that wakes up ever so often...to the discomfort of our loved ones sometimes...yet we must prevail the guilt and venture on..To have a Steelhead look at you with eyes resolved to death only to be released to fight another day is truely remarkable

If I can ever find out how to post pictures on this site ....Yesterday was actually one of those days that only comes along a few times in a lifetime. The story in a few paragraphs did it little justice but had to be said...I am going to send Sirocco the picture of the Water falls...maybe he can find his way to post the pIc' C

Since we returned from the Calgary Show we have been busy renovating the little store and getting business done. Yes,I have been out fishing(steelhead) several times and blanked . But we had a bit of rain that spiked a few of the Rivers that I occasion...so yesterday Morning by 6 am I was out of here and on my way to my special place...had to drop off the Kick Boat and fishing stuff near the trail...drive about 4 miles to the destination and walk back to the trail(hitched a ride 1/2 way),this is a very remote region and I was very lucky to hitch this ride! About a 1 km walk into the trail I picked up the gear, carry everything through the woods and down a very steep slope to a plateau that reveals an incredible waterfalls and barrier to all fish. It was lightly snowing and a bit windy,perfect Steelhead weather. It takes about 10 minutes to inflate the Kickboat and I'm off,working the warer below the falls. The spray is a bit much at times so hood was on . Normally all I ever seem to land in this area is Cutthroat Trout in the 15-18" range. Landed One and had a few touches...too much spray so off I go again....As a rule I don't get into any Steelhead for about another Mile or so and this day held true. Once to my Honey Spot I guided myself into position with great care,the water was a bit off colour so my odds were better. A number of years ago I landed 7 fish in this river useing a certain colour..and to this point I hadn't landed or even hooked into a Steelhead with any colour this day. So,I tied on this colour intruder, tied at home the night before. Second swing "Voila, a tug and a great battle from a Steelhead of about 4 lbs...Small for this River. "There has to be a larger fish in this run" mumbleing to myself. I was useing the Tamar,12'6" Small Spey Rod,,,great little tool..matched with an Elixir line tipped with a 14' fast sink poly tip. A quick cast upstream about 1:oclock and letting out plenty of line for a long Swing...the cast was only short about 60', the main current was taking the belly too fast so I began to straighten out the line but it pulled back....a Steelhead about 15lbs and Dime Bright let off a run that took me into the backing before I could grab the reel and adjust the drag...after a magnificant battle and great displeasure at being disturbed ,the fish came to me much too easily,I was thinking Hollywood and this fish was thinking F...U...He came into a quiet area with water about a foot deep...he took One Look at this alien and bolted ,leaving me with a camera in hand,1/2 smoked soaking wet cigar stuck in my lips and a grin on my face.Great to be alive... teh next 2 miles was perfect conditions but Notta. Another often overlooked slot produced another fish about the same size but this time ,on the Same Fly,he came not so close and in faster water decided to haed back to the Ocean with the fly and leader attached... Smiled all the way home,even though I had to sit in a SNow Storm and wait for a bus that had slid off the road and restricted traffic totally from both directions. What the heck was a bus doing out here anyway?? loaded with a girls class of future biologists visiting some remote Marine Biology Station in the Middle of Nowhere. The bus finally managed to be slid into a moveable position and for me, now a 60 km trip home in a blizzard,warm as toast,happy as a clam.

Funny...Jock said it was yours?

Maybe we can have Rick do it again,..... The people in Southern Ontario put together a great CD of the Spey Gathering on the Grand River in November of 2007. Many people went out of their way to get this thing done and I have to say it was a well feed and happy bunch. There were 47 participants that left with something they didn't arrive with...new friends,a bit of a belly and a broader understanding of Fly Fishers. If Gordon can't make it we should see if we can't have his stool on hand or at least an enlarged poster of it,to respect his being away!! C

Tying intruders is almost as addictive as Steelhead fly fishing...Less is more indeed,,,,however,the use of Rhea feather is nice but not necessary. Ostrich,Peacock,Heron and even some of the synthetics co-produce awesome intruder patterns. One of my favorite Flashabou materials for this is the Glow in the Dark Flashabou,(Pink,Green,Pearl,and Blue)the strands are very natural looking and are durable as heck. Peacock Herl is another strand that lays extremely well ,natural to boot. Useing synthetic materials is an advantage when tying intruders ,such as Ice Chenille,Tri-Lobal and other wrapping fibres, simply because they can add size very well to the fly but don't absorb much water like natural materials do...thus making the fly much easier to cast and work. We have done a lot of underwater filming of different Intruder patterns in motion and if lucky can finish this winter before late April. The hooks used for the trailers add a significant factor to the fly in being not only a rudder but can add "Weight in the water" to the fly. Nice tie Brent

All Scots use that when they want to cool down..supportive therapy...you know...But when it's very cold or wet the forward portion of that is useless. C

Somewhat ,and that would be a lot of fun!

Useing different casts to bring the heavy line to the surface is whats needed to perform other casts that require an anchor of some sort. Normally a Roll cast,Snap T or Snap Z does the deed very well. Once you get used to watching the fly land you more often than not get into a position to manipulate the direction of the final stroke...180 degrees forward of your loop formation. The key to successful casting is not to panic but understand what you are doing and feeling the moment. Your description of your style is correct(headscan),in doing a combination cast such as that, you are truely useing that tool(rod) to it's potential. Like a pole Vault athlete,applying the his weight to torque the pole(rod),loading it efficiently and off he goes. Once you begin to get the timing and undersatnding of what you are doing, simple strokes like the Torque Twist enter into the picture very often ,making the casts develope more efficiently and your physical output lessen. C

Thanks for opening this dialogue... in my description of "Speed" I am referring to a casting style either Scandi., Skagit,and even underhand.These styles of casting encorporate shorter ,heavier or a more compact weight distribution,of lines....lock and load! A good example of this is the" 1/2 out" rule when fishing or casting with heavy tips,especially when useing these shorter compact line systems. At the "White Mouse" speed in forming your D or preferrably V loop , once your sink tip is approx. 1/2 out of the water you engage your forward stroke. There is so much momentum because of compact weight and short fast stroke that we are able to lift the remaining sinking line out of the water with the fly attached,almost like dragging the anchor to manipulate your loop forward and ironically be able to slightly adjust your desired direction. Longer bellied lines and even softer rods do not provide us with the versatility to enact this movement as efficiently. Interestingly enough,Al has mentioned trying to use the full sinking lines (short head spey 44' "),rather than try to quickly pull that line from the waters depths it is fairly easy to slowly drag the line to the surface against the current or waters resistance ,they quickly performing your desired cast. The Same applies to all submerged lines. C

The Golden Gate area has a very interesting and long history with Spey Casting and long rods. Few know that before the 2nd World War long rods were used off the beaches for Stripers and other such fish. The War effort reduced that interest to almost nil until much later. I fished long rods off the Pescadaro Beaches a bit ...great waters C

Yeah,it's the same week-end as Gordons Clinic...It's likely that Val and I will be in San Francisco for Spey-O-Rama... But there is a large European Fishing show in that time frame that we may go to instead. C